ATL Media Planner

Publicis Groupe Africa; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 400 000 - 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media agency in Johannesburg is seeking a Media Planner to develop media schedules and manage ATL media investments. This role requires strong TV planning skills, collaboration with multiple brand managers, and a deep understanding of the South African media landscape. The ideal candidate will have a degree in marketing or media, experience with planning tools like Telmar and Arianna, and a proactive approach to managing media campaigns. Join the team to drive innovative media strategies and achieve client KPIs.

Qualifications

• Degree in marketing, media or communications.
• Experience with Telmar and Arianna planning tools.
• Strong TV planning skills with hands-on experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop media schedules based on approved strategies.
• Collaborate with brand managers and internal teams.
• Manage ATL media budgets to avoid financial losses.

Skills

Strong TV Planning Experience

Competent in Video-First Strategy Integration

Global Reporting Experience

Performance & KPI Tracking

Stakeholder Management

Attention to Detail & Accuracy

Proactive & Organised

Understanding of South African Media Landscape

Education

marketing/media/communications degree, diploma or certificate

Tools

Telmar

Arianna

Job description

Overview

The Media Planner role requires a combination of creativity, organizational and research skills. You will develop media schedules in line with approved media strategies that deliver on set KPI’s. A high level of collaboration and a willingness to push boundaries is expected. The role also requires accountability and responsibility over the ATL media investments managed.

Responsibilities

You will be involved with numerous brand managers, so it’s important to develop a good understanding and identify specific business needs for each one.

• Attend key client briefings, status meetings, and integration meetings with agency partners.
• Be present and on time to all required meetings.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, global teams and creative agency partners.
• Work collaboratively within the Media Buying Team.
• Sign off ATL media billing packs relevant to your portfolio to ensure alignment and avoid under and overspends.
• Update monthly forecasting reports.
• Ensure the Mediatools platform is kept up to date and integrations are added and maintained.
• Ensure timesheets are maintained and timeously updated.

The Job Purpose

• Demonstrate passion, care and vision for the brands in your portfolio.
• Fully versed in all Telmar / Arianna planning tools.
• Be accountable for the successful delivery of ATL media schedules, media opportunity evaluations and PCAs.
• Ensure collaboration and alignment with other external agency partners.
• Work closely with strategists and buyers to ensure campaigns run smoothly and meet projected KPIs.
• Collaborate with strategists to ensure understanding of the strategy and accurate translation into a media schedule.
• Once the schedule is approved, brief the campaign to the Buyer clearly and accurately.
• Ensure accurate and optimized campaign execution, delivery, and reporting.
• Develop and collate the monthly PCAs with the strategist.
• Work with the buyer to ensure accurate billing packs are delivered each month, and resolve AP invoice queries.
• Meet the client’s contracted KPI’s and commercial targets with the team.
• Resolve ATL media issues with a solution‑driven mindset while maintaining strong relationships with colleagues, agency partners and clients.
• Ensure budgets are properly managed and financial losses are mitigated due to under/overspends.
• Maintain highest taxonomy standards in collaboration with the team.
• Work with the digital team to ensure media integration and collaboration on all campaigns.
• Contribute to monthly reporting required for Global teams on your accounts.

Qualifications

• A marketing / media / communications degree, diploma or certificate.
• Telmar / Arianna Experience (TV, Radio, Print).

Must Haves

• Strong TV Planning Experience: hands-on in building TV schedules, analysing reach/frequency, flighting patterns, CPT efficiency, and channel mix optimisation.
• Competent in Video-First Strategy Integration: integrate linear TV with CTV to support brand and campaign objectives.
• Global Reporting Experience: comfortable with global templates, dashboards and reporting frameworks.
• Performance & KPI Tracking: interpret TV performance data, post-campaign analyses, spot-by-spot delivery, and translate results into actionable recommendations.
• Stakeholder Management: confident working with brand teams, procurement, creative agencies and media owners, with strong communication and presentation skills.
• Tools & Systems Knowledge: experience using TV planning tools (e.g., Telmar) and familiarity with internal/global reporting platforms.
• Attention to Detail & Accuracy: meticulous with numbers, schedules, CE inputs, and flowplan alignment.
• Proactive & Organised: able to manage multiple brands, deadlines and media plans, ensuring timely delivery and strong quality control.
• Understanding of South African Media Landscape: strong knowledge of local broadcasters, inventory dynamics, rate structures and negotiation contexts.